Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to continue implementing the Early Childhood Development Action Plan to improve early childhood development, and by enhancing access to early intervention services for children zero to five years of age, and supporting community wellness initiatives with early childhood development funding and subject matter expertise.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to focus on mental health and addictions, to enhance access to culturally-appropriate programs and services, address gaps in services, and enhance treatment options.

We have made progress.  Last November, we tabled the strategic framework, Mind and Spirit: Promoting Mental Health and Addictions Recovery. This framework sets the foundation for improvements to mental health and addictions programs and services.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to work collaboratively to reduce poverty in the NWT by working with our partners to advance the Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan, funding community-based partners, supporting community priorities for wellness and developing additional options for action.

Mr. Speaker, this government made a commitment in its mandate to enhance access to culturally-appropriate programs and services.    

The last government convened a Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness to travel across the Northwest Territories and come back with recommendations that would have a real impact in dealing with addictions.  The top priority identified by the Forum was more on-the-land healing programs.  This is the wisdom of our communities.  

YELLOWKNIFE (January 25, 2017) – The NWT Help Line has expanded its services to include Telephone group sessions and a Facebook page.

The Telephone Group Sessions will offer NWT residents group counselling supports on a variety of topics, including:

Mr. Speaker, over the past few years there has been an increased understanding and awareness that in Canada there is a disparity between the health status of indigenous people and other Canadians.   Acknowledging this reality forces us to confront difficult issues, including the legacies of colonization and the residential school system, and the fact that mainstream institutions have often not served indigenous people effectively.

Mr. Speaker, one of the commitments the Government of the Northwest Territories has made for investing in early childhood development includes improving access to and outcomes of early intervention services by continuing pilot projects in the Dehcho, Tłįchǫ and Beaufort Delta regions. I am pleased to report that the three early childhood development intervention pilot projects established as part of the GNWT’s Framework and Action Plan for Early Childhood Development are well underway.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 7, 2016) – The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Leadership Council, which governs the affairs of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, is holding a board meeting.

Meetings of the board are open to the public. The meeting will be held at the Explorer Hotel – Janvier Room in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on September 12, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Members of the public can attend in person or via teleconference (details below).

YELLOWKNIFE (September 2, 2016) - Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy issued the following update regarding an external investigation into a critical incident:

“As committed last week, I am pleased to provide additional details regarding an external investigation. I would like to announce that Dr. Marlyn Cook will be conducting a critical incident investigation. I am confident in Dr. Cook’s abilities to provide a complete and fair investigation.”

YELLOWKNIFE (August 31, 2016) – The Department of Health and Social Services is seeking public feedback on the Northwest Territories (NWT) health care system in the form of a patient experience questionnaire.

The 10-minute questionnaire is now available online at www.hss.gov.nt.ca, or at any health care facility across the NWT until October 15, 2016.

Please take the time to submit feedback on patient services you have received and help make a difference in the NWT health care system.